Experimental and numerical evaluation of spontaneous imbibition processes in unfractured and fractured carbonate cores with stress-induced apertures

Spontaneous imbibition (SI) experiments in fractured and unfractured Indiana limestone cores were performed to evaluate the impact of fractures in oil recovery. Numerical simulations were run to reproduce the experimental setting and history match fracture and matrix properties. Tracer tests were carried out to investigate the effect of changing stresses in the hydraulic fracture conductivity. The pore space and connected pores in the fractured plug were analysed via Micro-CT scan and thin petrography analysis was carried out to observe the matrix heterogeneity of the samples. Relative permeability, capillary pressure and fracture properties were estimated numerically for Indiana limestone carbonate rocks to match the SI curves measured at a temperature of 58.7° C. The investigation shows that the fractured core has suffered a deformation under stress conditions impacting the initial values of fracture aperture and permeability. This deformation has led to decreased flow rates in the fracture and oil trapping in the fracture channel. At the field scale, this phenomenon could lead to decreased oil recovery in the first days of production.